Improving Road Safety

News Release

Improving Road Safety

Province Introducing New Legislation to Make Ontario’s Roads Safer

Ontario is introducing legislation that, if passed, would help keep the province's roads among the safest in North America by reducing collisions, injuries and fatalities.

If passed, the proposed legislation and supporting amendments to the Highway Traffic Act will make highways and roads safer by:

Increasing fines for distracted driving from its current range of $60 to $500 to a range of $300 to $1,000; assigning three demerit points upon conviction; and adding distracted driving to the existing list of novice driver conditions.

Applying current alcohol impaired sanctions to drivers who are drug impaired.

Ensuring Ontario's roads and highways are safe is part of the government's economic plan for Ontario. The four part plan is building Ontario up by investing in people's talents and skills, building new public infrastructure like roads and transit, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives, and building a secure savings plan so everyone can afford to retire.

Quick Facts

According to recent statistics, over 45 per cent of drivers killed in Ontario were found to have drugs or a combination of drugs and alcohol in their system.

If current collision trends continue, fatalities from distracted driving may exceed those from drinking and driving by 2016.

Pedestrians represent about one in six motor vehicle-related fatalities on Ontario roads — 41 per cent of which occurred at intersections.

Background Information

Additional Resources

Quotes

“If passed, our legislation will help keep pedestrians, drivers and cyclists safe on Ontario’s roads. Thanks to our legacy of tough laws, strong enforcement and partnerships with many dedicated road safety partners, Ontario’s roads are among the safest in North America and these new measures are intended to keep it that way.”